Based in Washington, Jen managed Aviation Week’s worldwide defense, space and security coverage from 2013 to January 2024.
Prior to taking on the Executive Editor role, Jen was Aviation Week's Congressional Editor. Jen came to Aviation Week in March 2011 from Politico, where she covered the intersection of defense and politics. She also worked as a reporter and editor for Defense Daily, Inside the Army, The Other Paper and The Columbus Dispatch.
Jen received a Master’s degree in journalism as a Kiplinger Fellow at the Ohio State University. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in history and journalism from the University of Michigan.
The aviation industry has successfully—at least in one venue—pushed back on user fees. In a jobs bill introduced Oct. 5, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) removed provisions floated by President Barack Obama in his bill to stimulate employment growth, including a $100-per-flight fee and accelerated depreciation of business aircraft. Instead, Senate Democrats are proposing a 5.6% tax on millionaires. And, the bill would extend 100% expensing for another year.
Democratic lawmakers are trying to block the Obama administration’s proposal to sell a $53 million package of weapons to Bahrain. On Sept. 14, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency told Congress that Bahrain’s government was looking for equipment including 44 armored Humvees, more than 200 missiles, including bunker busters, and other gear. Congress has 30 days from the date of notification to object.
Amid congressional calls to cut U.S. forces in Europe as a way to reduce the deficit, the commander of the U.S. Army in Europe is reluctant to make value judgments about the process. But Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling is clear about one thing — the requirements for his forces have not lessened. “Actually, it’s increased,” the three-star general said during an Oct. 6 speech on Capitol Hill. Over the last nine years, U.S. forces in Europe have been scaled back from 870 installations to about 22. But the demands, he says, are ever-changing.
